100K Challenge, Sunday, 6th September 2026
The seeds of the event were sown before Christmas and this was the culmination of work by a significant team of volunteers ably led by Marina. Every detail had been planned to perfection: from the route, to the refreshment stops, to the bakers providing cakes for tea, and to the underlying administration for publicity, ensuring everyone had signed up and knew what to do on the day.
Soon after 8.00am cyclists started arriving at The City Arms in Earlsdon to sign in and perhaps grab a quick cup of coffee. Between 8.30am and 9.00am groups set off – each with a leader and a backmarker to give their group a trouble free journey through the Warwickshire lanes.
The first leg took us on our favourite route through Warwick, Sherbourne and Hampton Lucy to Charlecote Village Hall. Here the Women’s Institute were very efficient in providing bacon or sausage baps in quick succession as the groups rolled in.
On the next leg we climbed over the Dene / Stour watershed to Alderminster and then took the delightful lane to Wimpstone and the charming village of Preston-on-Stour. A short track took us to Clifford Chambers with strict instructions to avoid a locked gate by keeping left and then climbing over a log to regain the track. We then found that the gate had been propped wide open!! A long climb was necessary through Binton to cross from the Avon Valley into the Alne Valley and on to Aston Cantlow Village Hall. Copious quantities of tea and cake were served by our regular team of catering volunteers.
The final leg took us under the Edstone Aqueduct, carrying the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal over the road and two railway lines (one dismantled). It is the longest cast iron aqueduct in England. We continued through Edstone Park, past a minature railway round Cutler’s Farm yard and then on our favourite track to Kingston Grange. The route took us through Kenilworth, along Crackly Lane resplendent with a new HS2 bridge, through the University campus and back to Earlsdon for a beer.
It was an excellent day’s cycling with only one puncture among the whole field. We had a sag wagon on standby which was fortunately not used. The whole day ran smoothly to perfection thanks to the many volunteers – too many to name individually, but a special thanks is due to Marina Friend for her overall management of the event and to Dave Hearn for overseeing the catering.
The ladies of Charlecote Village Hall sent a very complimentary email about the event and its riders and thanked us for the generous donation to their charity – Cyclists Fighting Cancer.
Lastly thanks to the 37-riders, including 10-women, for making the event a great success and we look forward to seeing you on the next one.